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The role of estuarine type in characterizing early stage fish assemblages in warm temperate estuaries, South Africa

The role of estuarine type in characterizing early stage fish assemblages in warm temperate... Assemblages of early stage fishes (larval and early juvenile stages) were investigated and compared in seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuarine systems on the warm temperate Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Estuarine type, by virtue of mouth state and prevailing physico chemical conditions, played a defining role in the structure of these fish assemblages. Clupeidae and Gobiidae were the dominant fish families in both estuarine types. Permanently open estuaries were characterized by the predominance of larvae and early juveniles of estuary dependent marine fish species while estuary resident fishes dominated intermittently open estuaries. Seasonal changes were observed in species density and diversity in both estuarine types. Species richness and diversity were highest in the permanently open Swartkops Estuary that is characterized by large nursery habitat availability. Species diversity was high in estuaries with a good supply of freshwater, that results in good recruitment of estuary dependent marine species. Similarly, freshwater deprived estuaries also displayed high species diversity and this was due to the higher incidence of marine straggler species in these systems. Salinity zones appeared to play a significant role in both species density and the presence or absence of species in both estuarine types. Mesohaline zones were found to be the most productive in terms of accumulator regions for larval stages. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png African Zoology Taylor & Francis

The role of estuarine type in characterizing early stage fish assemblages in warm temperate estuaries, South Africa

Strydom, N.A.; Whitfield, A.K.; Wooldridge, T.H.
African Zoology , Volume 38 (1): 15 – Apr 1, 2003
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The role of estuarine type in characterizing early stage fish assemblages in warm temperate estuaries, South Africa

Abstract

Assemblages of early stage fishes (larval and early juvenile stages) were investigated and compared in seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuarine systems on the warm temperate Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Estuarine type, by virtue of mouth state and prevailing physico chemical conditions, played a defining role in the structure of these fish assemblages. Clupeidae and Gobiidae were the dominant fish families in both estuarine types. Permanently open estuaries were...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© Zoological Society of Southern Africa
ISSN
2224-073X
eISSN
1562-7020
DOI
10.1080/15627020.2003.11657192
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Assemblages of early stage fishes (larval and early juvenile stages) were investigated and compared in seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuarine systems on the warm temperate Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Estuarine type, by virtue of mouth state and prevailing physico chemical conditions, played a defining role in the structure of these fish assemblages. Clupeidae and Gobiidae were the dominant fish families in both estuarine types. Permanently open estuaries were characterized by the predominance of larvae and early juveniles of estuary dependent marine fish species while estuary resident fishes dominated intermittently open estuaries. Seasonal changes were observed in species density and diversity in both estuarine types. Species richness and diversity were highest in the permanently open Swartkops Estuary that is characterized by large nursery habitat availability. Species diversity was high in estuaries with a good supply of freshwater, that results in good recruitment of estuary dependent marine species. Similarly, freshwater deprived estuaries also displayed high species diversity and this was due to the higher incidence of marine straggler species in these systems. Salinity zones appeared to play a significant role in both species density and the presence or absence of species in both estuarine types. Mesohaline zones were found to be the most productive in terms of accumulator regions for larval stages.

Journal

African Zoology – Taylor & Francis

Published: Apr 1, 2003

Keywords: fish larvae; estuary type; abundance; diversity; mesohaline region

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